Intersectionality

Sexism, Racism, Ableism, Heterosexism, Classism:
Making the Links with Sexual Violence

Sexual assault experiences are embedded within the personal, as well as the social and historical context within which we all live. To acknowledge the diversity and complexity of female experience, violence against women has to be considered in relation to an entire structure of domination of which patriarchy is but one part. Sexism, as it intersects with racism, classism, homophobia and able-ism, and a range of other experiences will affect women's responses to the trauma of sexual violence. As our communities grow and become even more diverse, we at the Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre are committed to not only recognize that diversity but to continue to create policies, programs and projects that reflect our commitment to serving all women in our diverse communities.

Access & Equity at the ORCC

The Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre is committed to providing inclusive and accessible services to all women. In meeting the challenges of making our services accessible to all women, we have achieved important successes in recent years. These include:

  • The Violence Awareness Program for Women at Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre (OCDC) (1995-Present)
    Two workers from the ORCC go to the prison once a week and deliver workshops to incarcerated women. Besides workshops on sexual violence they give women information on other areas of their lives. The workshops also provide women with the chance to come together to share their experiences and discuss issues relevant to them.

  • Peer Mentoring Project (2002-2003)
    We trained women volunteers from immigrant and refugee groups so they can do public education on sexual violence against women in their communities. During the training, the participants shared their ideas on how to reach out to women in their communities, and we supported them in creating culturally appropriate workshops.  More than ten women graduated from this training and organized workshops and discussions on sexual violence in their communities.
  • Women Against Violence Education Project (WAVE) (2006-2007)
    The main purpose of this project was to raise awareness of sexual violence against women and increase accessibility by undertaking outreach activities and providing support to immigrant and refugee communities. This helped women who experienced violence, but historically did not access our services, to come forward for support and assistance. The project had community as well as outreach and support components. As part of this project, the Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre delivered support group sessions to young high school aged women with immigrant and Refugee Backgrounds and newcomer women from Rwanda.  
  • Girls Chat Project (2007-Present)
    The objective of this project is to provide young women from immigrant backgrounds the opportunity to better integrate into the social life of Ottawa by facilitating opportunities for them to address their issues in a manner that is culturally appropriate. Through weekly discussions, 90 young women with immigrant and refugee background (in six Ottawa high schools) receive information on healthy body image, self-esteem, healthy sexuality and sexual violence. Another objective of the project is to organize information sessions for teachers, school administrators and other service providers in the community. In these sessions the multiple needs of the young women are highlighted and ways to increase their access to available services identified. 
  • Culturally Competent Counselling Project
    In partnership with three other agencies, the Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre implemented a project titled “Culturally Competent Counselling”. The focus of this project was to provide training to counsellors and social workers in Ottawa on how to start the process of becoming culturally compatible – meaning to be able serve clients of diverse background as a counsellor. We are now in the process of completing a handbook on counselling and cultural competency, which will be available to all service providers and front-line workers.

Definitions

  • Classism:
    A system of institutional practices and individual actions that allow a few people to control most of the wealth and power in society to the disadvantage of the majority of people.
  • Heterosexism:
    Institutionalized policies and individual actions that promote a heterosexual lifestyle above all others. It assumes that a heterosexual pattern of loving is superior over all other patterns of loving and that a woman's life will be defined in relation to a man.
  • Racism:
    Is to people of colour what sexism is to women. It is the assumption that one race is superior to another. It also assumes that the abilities of an individual are determined by their race.
  • Sexism:
    An integral part of the social structure under which we live that exploits women and confers privileges to men over women.
  • Ableism:
    Institutionalized practices and individual actions and beliefs that posit the able-body as the norm. It works to promote negative images of disAbled women, such as the myth that it is not possible for someone with a disability to have a positive and equal relationship.